Most actors don't need an entertainment lawyer to start: your agent negotiates your acting deals, and a union contract sets the minimums. A lawyer earns their place when the stakes or the fine print go up: a big or long-term deal, a representation contract, an AI or likeness clause, a project you are producing, or a dispute. Here is what our experts told us, and how to find a lawyer through official bar referral services.
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Not for every job. Kym Jackson explains that closing your contracts is part of your agent's job, and that jobs you find yourself should still go through your agent so someone negotiates properly. Karen Workman makes the same point for parents: contracts are tricky, and unless you are a lawyer, negotiating is best left to a specialist, which is what an agent is for.
But an agent isn't a lawyer, and some actors have no agent yet. Forbes Riley, who told us she has had thousands of contracts, has someone read every one of hers and urges actors to have a lawyer read theirs.
An agent finds and negotiates work; a manager guides your career; a lawyer handles the legal side of the contract. SAG-AFTRA's agent FAQ says agents negotiate and service employment contracts, while managers are meant to focus on career direction. It also notes that in some states people who secure employment must be licensed as talent agents, with exceptions sometimes made for attorneys.
In practice, many actors use a lawyer alongside their agent rather than instead of one. Our guide to talent agent vs manager covers the other two roles.
Kym's checklist is a good brief to hand a lawyer:
Kym also suggests keeping any renegotiation in writing. Our acting agent contracts guide has more.
On union work, a lot. Ben Whitehair explains that SAG-AFTRA negotiates the baseline contract for all members and has lawyers on staff who can go after a production company for pay or residuals you are owed. He has seen actors on non-union jobs go unpaid or get hurt, and face hiring a lawyer themselves, which most actors can't afford. That is one more thing to weigh in union vs non-union work.
Because it's your name on it. Forbes Riley told us your agent, your manager and even your lawyer are not there to read the contract for you. One word can decide whether you get paid. When a contract comes back with changes, make sure they are marked, because a date can slip in. She points to residuals: depending on a single clause, they might start on day one, on day 91, or never.
Ben Whitehair's rule on set: if the paperwork looks wrong, such as extra money your agent negotiated not appearing, call your agent before you sign.
Start with official referral services. As of November 2026, the State Bar of California keeps a directory of certified lawyer referral services, searchable by county and area of law; it says you can arrange a consultation for a reduced fee or none. In New York, the New York City Bar's Legal Referral Service is run with the New York County Lawyers' Association, and the New York State Bar Association's referral service says its referrals are free and consultations are $35 for 30 minutes.
Elke Osadnik's vetting habits, from her answers on visa lawyers, work for any lawyer: check the bar association's website for complaints (she uses the California Bar's), ask a friend exactly who they dealt with and how long ago, and speak to several before you choose. Your agent or manager may have names too.
It varies, and we couldn't verify a standard rate or percentage on an official source, so we won't quote one. Ask before any work starts how they bill, what is included and what happens if the deal falls through, and get the answer in writing. Elke's warning about unusually cheap quotes applies here too: ask exactly what you get for the money.
That's a different specialty. Elke Osadnik strongly recommends hiring an immigration attorney for an O-1B case, because the process has become stricter, and says to contact one as soon as you think you may have a case. Check that their experience matches your visa, not just that a friend liked them. See our O-1B visa guide.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and union rules change; check with SAG-AFTRA or a lawyer for your own situation.
Not usually at the start, because your agent negotiates acting deals. Actors bring in a lawyer for bigger or long-term deals, representation contracts, AI or likeness clauses, their own productions and disputes.
Not for finding work. SAG-AFTRA says agents negotiate and service employment contracts, and some states require people who secure employment to be licensed as talent agents, sometimes with exceptions for attorneys.
SAG-AFTRA's guidance for parents says you should always have an attorney review a management contract before signing, because managers are not franchised or regulated by the union.
Use an official referral service, such as the State Bar of California's directory of certified lawyer referral services or the New York City Bar's Legal Referral Service, then check the lawyer with the state bar and compare several.
It varies, so ask how they bill and get it in writing. The New York State Bar Association's referral service says consultations are $35 for 30 minutes, as of November 2026.
Contracts make more sense when you know how the business around them works. Download Your Free Film Industry Guide.
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